A Queen Creek woman is accused of creating a fake cancer charity and using the funds to pay her cellphone bills and make electronic transfers to her personal bank account.

Lucinda Stapleton, 36, is facing charges including fraudulent schemes, forgery with a written instrument and theft.

According to a probable cause statement, Stapleton in 2015 approached the mother of a boy who had recently been diagnosed with cancer and offered to create a nonprofit charity to raise money for his treatment.

The woman agreed, and Stapleton later showed her documents that appeared to prove a 501(c)(3) had been established on behalf of the child. Meanwhile, Stapleton was the only person who controlled the funds, court records show.

Special agents from the Arizona Attorney General's Office looking into the "charity" determined that the documents provided to the sick boy's mother were forged and Stapleton had never sought nonprofit status, court records show.

The investigation revealed that funds generated through the charity were used to pay Stapleton's Verizon Wireless bills and make electronic transfers of money to her personal account, documents show.

Authorities say the family of the cancer patient received a portion of the money donated to the sham charity, but $4,800 is outstanding, documents said.

Stapleton was arrested Thursday morning at her home. She has since been released from jail. Her next court hearing is set for Oct. 26.